I plan to make moussaka tomorrow or Saturday (ground beef, eggplant, bechamel sauce, etc.) I have some wines that may be nearing the end of their drinkability and want to open one of them. What would be the best pairing do you think? Valpolicella Ripasso, a Malbec rose' from Mendoza or a red Cote de Nuits Villages?

Thomas wrote:I agree with Jenise about either wine pairing, except for the part about the weather.

If you drink white wine on cold days, why not rose on cold days? It was cool--not cold--here last night. The rose we had with our dinner was perfect--for the dinner.

I too drink white and rose somewhat regardless of the weather, Thomas. But then I'm half a couple, and sharing a bottle has no baggage. We generally finish any bottle we open the same night. But as a single person possibly drinking alone and needing to spread a bottle over several days, Jane might have other considerations of which impending weather could be influential; hence my championing both options.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Thomas wrote:I agree with Jenise about either wine pairing, except for the part about the weather.

If you drink white wine on cold days, why not rose on cold days? It was cool--not cold--here last night. The rose we had with our dinner was perfect--for the dinner.

I too drink white and rose somewhat regardless of the weather, Thomas. But then I'm half a couple, and sharing a bottle has no baggage. We generally finish any bottle we open the same night. But as a single person possibly drinking alone and needing to spread a bottle over several days, Jane might have other considerations of which impending weather could be influential; hence my championing both options.

Yes, and as I've said before, the weather outside is not always the weather inside!

During hot summer days, some indoor temperatures will be icy cold because of AC. And during cold winter days, some indoor temperatures will be boiling hot because of heat. And then in some houses, during cold winter days it is too cold for the red wine to stay at a drinkable temperature.